The secret to great customer service may sound trite but true. It is about the employee. Having worked in customer service for years I have seen managers deride customers to find common ground to the point that the employee and manager deplore customers who call in. Getting customer interactions correct so that the problem is resolved with “wow” is more critical than ever before. While social media has given customers an immediate voice with wide ranging repercussions, customer service “beyond good enough” should be employed for three reasons: 1. It is the right thing to do. 2. When are call about a customer service issue we personally deplore bad behavior, long hold times and insensitivity. 3. Competition is only a click away on the internet.

Most every company wants to raise the level of their customer service. Their urgency is the bottom-line. The moral imperative is how do we want to be treated when we call? How do companies consider improving their customer service? They rewrite the script and crate another dubious project from the standpoint of employees too timid to speak up. This is disengagement. Real action isn’t taken until customer service failures impact the bottom-line.

The simplest way is to empower employees and treat them with as much respect as you expect them to treat the customer. While you ponder that here are 20 dang good customer service quotes. If you would like to know how our unconventional ideas on customer service can increase your bottom line simply click here.

The key is to set realistic customer expectations, and then not to just meet them, but to exceed them — preferably in unexpected and helpful ways. – Richard Branson

Here is a powerful yet simple rule. Always give people more than they expect to get. – Nelson Boswell

Traditional corporations, particularly large-scale service and manufacturing businesses are organized for efficiency. Or consistency. But not joy. Joy comes from surprise and connection and humanity and transparency and new…If you fear special requests, if you staff with cogs, if you have to put it all in a manual, then the chances of amazing someone are really quite low. – Seth Godin

We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better. – Jeff Bezos

Make the customer the hero of your story. – Ann Handley

Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They DO expect you to fix things when they go wrong. – Donald Porter

Always do more than is required of you. – George Patton

Every contact we have with a customer influences whether or not they’ll come back. We have to be great every time or we’ll lose them. – Kevin Stirtz

The longer you wait, the harder it is to produce outstanding customer service. – William H. Davidow

The goal as a company is to have customer service that is not just the best, but legendary. – Sam Walton

People expect good service but few are willing to give it. – Robert Gately

It’s easier to love a brand when the brand loves you back. – Seth Godin

A customer service apology is stronger with a personal touch. – Shep Hyken

When people call our call center, our reps don’t have scripts, and they don’t try to up-sell. They are just judged on whether they go above and beyond for the customer and really deliver a kind of personal service and emotional connection with our customers. – Tony Hsieh

Open, honest communication is the best foundation for any relationship, but remember that at the end of the day it’s not what you say or what you do, but how you make people feel that matters the most. – Tony Hsieh

A lot of people have fancy things to say about customer service, but it’s just a day-in, day-out, ongoing, never-ending, persevering, compassionate kind of activity. – Christopher McCormick

The only purpose of ‘customer service’… is to change feelings. – Seth Godin

Always keep in mind the old retail adage: Customers remember the service a lot longer than they remember the price. – Lauren Freedman

In an era when companies see online support as a way to shield themselves from costly interactions with their customers, it’s time to consider an entirely different approach: building human-centric customer service through great people and clever technology. So, get to know your customers. Humanize them. Humanize yourself. It’s worth it. – Kristin Smaby